The East Putney Councillors' Spring Bulletin

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An update from your local ward Councillors

Council’s climate change action plan gets the green light
Your Council’s ambitious Climate Change Action Plan now has the go ahead. It details all the ways the Council will contribute to tackling climate change in our borough, and allocates £5 million to projects to help the Council become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030. Key themes include energy efficiency, air quality, water management, urban greening and open spaces, planning and sustainable development, waste management and sustainable transport.

Cllr Ravi Govindia said: “We have been widely praised for taking a lead amongst local authorities with this ambitious plan, and we are absolutely ready to implement it. Our targets include yet more tree planting, buying 100% green electricity, having a low emission vehicle fleet, and training our staff in ‘carbon literacy’ to become a Gold Level Carbon Literate organisation.

“We not only aim to reduce carbon emissions and fight the challenge of climate change, but to make further improvements to air quality, water and transport, advancing our work to help Wandsworth people live in a healthier and safer place.”

But for the action plan to succeed, Ravi said it needs community support. Ravi added: “The plan emphasises working with others in the community to build a green and sustainable borough. It was really positive to see so many resident and community groups at the Town Hall when we discussed the plan, and to hear shared ideas and work in progress. We’re especially keen to work with young people. We all have a responsibility in addressing climate change, so we really look forward to working with community groups and young people to make Wandsworth the greenest inner borough in London.”

You can see the full action plan on the Council's website here.

You can hear more about why Ravi feels strongly about this on this short video.

Work Match fair gets a big turnout – with another planned for March



More than 260 people went to the Construct Wandsworth jobs fair in January run by the Council’s Work Match scheme, and were able to speak to some 50 firms offering jobs and training opportunities in the construction industry, many in Wandsworth’s regeneration projects at Nine Elms and other parts of the borough.

Wandsworth puts local people first in line for Work Match jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities. Cllr George Crivelli said: “This fair was all about construction work, but there will be future opportunities in many sectors, including food, tech, culture and hospitality. Employers can use Work Match to fill vacancies with local people, so both employers and people seeking work are welcome to get in touch.”

In March, Work Match will run a jobs fair focused on hospitality and catering, so look out for more information.

Anyone looking for a job, a new challenge, or work closer to home - and any employers looking to hire locally - can get in touch with Work Match at 020 8871 5191.

People looking for work can email their CV to wandsworthworkmatch@wandsworth.gov.uk
There is more about Wandsworth Work Match, including a list of vacancies, here.

Tell us where you’d like to see more spring flowers!



Thousands of bulbs planted by the Council will soon be blooming into spring flowers such as daffodils on green spaces across Wandsworth.

Your East Putney Councillors would love to hear from East Putney residents about any green or earthy spaces around our streets where you would like to see more spring flowers planted. Please let us know!

Cllr Sarah Binder said: “It would be great if residents could keep an eye out for any street, community, or estate areas that don’t have flowers this spring, but that you think could be planted. If you spot some, please tell us. We will then look into planting bulbs in more spaces this autumn, to blossom next spring.”

If you see a spot in East Putney that you think could be brightened up with spring flowers, please contact Sarah at cllr.s.binder@wandsworth.gov.uk

Brexit advice to EU citizens
With Brexit in the news, your Councillors are again reminding EU citizens that they are welcome in Wandsworth, a borough that prides itself on its diversity. Cllr Ravi Govindia said: “People from all over the world call Wandsworth home and contribute to the life of our borough. We want people who are here from an EU 27 country to know that we value and welcome our European citizens, and that the Council can help you.”

If you are a citizen of an EU country, of a European Economic Area country (Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway), or of Switzerland, you and your family can still apply until 31 December 2020 for the Government’s ‘settled or pre-settled status’ scheme. This ensures your continued right to stay in the UK after Brexit, and that you have the same access to healthcare, benefits and pensions as you have currently.

You must apply online for this, at the Government website here.

Irish citizens don’t need to apply as their status and rights are already protected under existing laws.

Wandsworth Council also offers help and advice to EU citizens in the borough. There is more about this here.

Old Burial Ground being shut at night



Your East Putney Councillors have arranged to have the gates of the Old Burial Ground on Upper Richmond Road closed at night, to tackle anti social behaviour. Cllr George Crivelli said: “Local residents told us about anti-social incidents in the Burial Ground at night and sometimes even into the early hours, including drunken behaviour, shouting and noisy music. This was causing major disturbance for local residents, particularly for people at Percy Laurie House.

“We have now succeeded in getting the Council to lock the Old Burial Ground gates from dusk till dawn, in a trial that began in the autumn and will run till this summer. We hope this will reduce the anti social behaviour that has caused so many problems for local residents.”
If the trial achieves the desired effect, the night-time lock-up could be made permanent.

Wandsworth leading efforts to approve the new homes Londoners need



Wandsworth is leading the way in granting planning approvals for the new homes Londoners need, according to a study by a leading property investment firm. Using Government statistics, the website Property Solvers found that Wandsworth came top out of London’s 32 boroughs, approving more residential planning permissions than any other London borough in the second quarter of last year.

Between April and June Wandsworth approved 190 schemes, including large and small new housing developments and residents seeking to extend their homes - 83% of the applications received. Barking and Dagenham came bottom, approving just 7, while Lambeth approved only 18, Richmond 23, Merton 31 and Westminster 39.

Cllr Ravi Govindia said: “This study shows we’re leading the efforts to deliver the homes that Londoners desperately need. Town halls across London need to rise to the challenge with imagination and flexibility, to sustainably build the new homes Londoners are crying out for. It’s also vital that councils support residents who want to extend their homes to meet changing needs - being obstructive to sensitively designed plans only adds to London’s housing problems.”

Wandsworth has a wide-ranging package of measures, including buying and building new homes, so that people in genuine need can be offered permanent homes near where they grew up. The Council is committed to surpassing the Mayor’s London Plan targets, including by increasing the supply of affordable homes, with 3,000 built over the past decade and around 2,500 more due for completion in the next 3 years.

And Wandsworth is London’s best borough for turning empty properties into homes
Meanwhile another study has shown that Wandsworth has a lower proportion of empty homes than anywhere else in London. Research by insurance company Admiral, based on figures from the Government and over 350 councils, has revealed that Wandsworth’s empty homes ratio is the lowest in London, and among the very lowest in the UK.

Wandsworth has only 1.2 empty homes per thousand, compared to 6.6 in Lambeth, 7.3 in Merton, 3.2 in Hammersmith and Fulham, 2.4 in Westminster, 4.4 in Kingston and 5.7 in Richmond. Southwark’s ratio is 13.3, Kensington and Chelsea’s is 12.7, Croydon’s is 9.5, Camden’s is 11.6 and Sutton’s ratio is 8.3 per thousand.

The UK local authority average is 10 empty homes per thousand, meaning that across England, Scotland and Wales, over 278,000 homes have been sitting empty for longer than six months.
Cllr Ravi Govindia said: “Bringing empty homes back into use is one of our key priorities. Last year we intervened to bring 45 empty or derelict Wandsworth properties back into use, for example through loans, grants, support to owners and in some cases threats of compulsory purchase. Modernisation and renovation has successfully provided new homes, including for homeless families on the Council’s waiting list.”

If you own an empty property in a state of disrepair and need help or advice to bring it back to use, or if you would like to report an empty property in your street, you can contact the Council about it here.

Keswick Road traffic calming set to go ahead
A plan to improve road safety and reduce congestion on Keswick Road will be considered by the Council’s Transport committee on 6 February. Cllr George Crivelli said: “Local residents told us they were worried by the volume of traffic on Keswick Road and the speed of some motorists on this residential road. They raised a petition asking for traffic calming, which I presented to the Council in July. In response, Council officers held a traffic management investigation, which found that average speeds on Keswick Road exceeded the Council threshold of 24mph, and noted congestion caused by a stationary queue of vehicles waiting to join the A3 southbound.”

The plan proposes speed-reducing humps on Keswick Road, and a 6-month experimental traffic trial that will ban right hand turns out of Keswick Road, except for cycles. The aim is to reduce the volume of through traffic between Upper Richmond Road and West Hill, while ensuring access for residents at the southern end of Keswick Road, and to reduce the risk of accidents at the junction with Portinscale Road. The proposal includes using CCTV to enforce right-turn restrictions.

George added: “The proposals aim to ease congestion and make Keswick Road safer. I’m hopeful that the Transport committee will adopt them, and that they will address residents’ concerns.”

New Granville Road zebra crossing
Your East Putney Councillors have also secured a new raised zebra crossing at St Michael’s Primary School on Granville Road, to complement the traffic calming features already on the road.

Cllr Ravi Govindia said: “We listened to local residents who were worried about the volume of traffic on Granville Road, especially for children and parents making a lot of crossings to and from St. Michael’s. We asked Council officers to assess the potential for a zebra crossing outside the school, and I’m delighted that it meets the criteria. This is great news that will hopefully improve safety for schoolchildren and other pedestrians in Granville Road.”

Construction work is planned for mid-February during the school half term break. The existing pedestrian island will be upgraded to make the crossing, and the footway outside the school will be widened to improve visibility and pedestrian access. New road markings will also warn motorists of the crossing point.

Lodge Hotel planning application



Cllr Sarah Binder is monitoring a planning application by the Lodge Hotel on Upper Richmond Road to provide a further 21 rooms. This would include a 2-storey extension to the south east boundary of the hotel and a 3-4 storey building in the centre of the site and towards the north west site boundary, along with other infill extensions and rear and side roof terraces at third floor level.

Sarah said: “Some local residents are concerned about the potential impact that a bigger and taller hotel may have on the local area and nearby homes. This is a major application which will need to go to the Planning committee for decision, whether or not Council officers recommended it for approval or refusal.

“When the officers’ report on this proposal is published, I will discuss it in depth with ward colleagues. Local residents who are concerned can submit objections to the scheme up to the week before the Planning Applications Committee - this potentially could be on 20 February.”

Better roads and pavements
In the current council tax year to April, almost fifty roads or pavements across Wandsworth will have been resurfaced, ensuring safer journeys for cyclists and motorists.

East Putney’s Findon Close, Lebanon Gardens and Woodlands Way are among the residential roads in this year’s upgrade plan. £3 million is being spent in 2019-20 year on footpaths and roads, on top of £3 million spent last year.

Cllr George Crivelli said: “Roads and pavements are a Council priority. Since April 2012, we have invested some £16 million fixing 40,000 potholes, and repairing over 230 miles of the road surfaces that we are responsible for maintaining. It’s heartening that annual surveys consistently show Wandsworth as having some of the best maintained roads and pavements in London.”

Don’t forget - residents can report potholes or broken pavements at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/potholes or by emailing onstreetservices@wandsworth.gov.uk
A list of streets scheduled for resurfaced roads or new pavement is on the Council website here.

East Putney phone kiosks firmly rejected
A Council decision to block four proposed pavement phone kiosks - three of them in East Putney - has been upheld by a Government planning inspector. A year ago the Council rejected plans by Maximus Networks Ltd for kiosks on West Hill, Putney Hill, Upper Richmond Road and Garratt Lane on the grounds that they would be unattractive and unnecessary street clutter.

The company appealed, prompting a public inquiry by a Government planning inspector. But after site visits and hearing evidence, he dismissed all four appeals.

The inspector said a kiosk on West Hill near the corner of Keswick Road would be out of place, “intruding into an open area of pavement and the leafy residential character” of the area, and a kiosk at the corner of Putney Hill and Chartfield Avenue would increase “visual clutter, harming the appearance of the street scene.”

He said a kiosk on Upper Richmond Road near the junction with Putney Hill would be too large, harmful to the street scene, and would impede pedestrian flow, “making it more likely that people would step out into the street”.

Cllr Sarah Binder said: “The proposed locations were inappropriate, and would have caused unacceptable harm to the character of their surroundings. We are glad the inspector reached the same conclusions as the Council had done.”

Wandsworth Bridge major upgrade



A major £6 million refurbishment of Wandsworth Bridge is due to start in March and last for around ten months. To keep traffic moving, all lanes will be kept open whenever possible in both directions, and when there do need to be restrictions, at least two of the four lanes will be open northbound and southbound. The bridge will stay open at all times to pedestrians.

Cllr George Crivelli said: “The works include detailed structural repairs, road resurfacing, waterproofing and corrosion protection. We will also repaint the bridge to improve its appearance and protect its steel structure, and will install eco-friendly LED floodlights under the arches that can be lit at night, making it more of a landmark, as we have done at Putney Bridge. We take our maintaining our bridges very seriously, and this should ensure that Wandsworth Bridge remains in excellent condition long into the future.”

Funding for the project is coming from the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy, a charge the Council levies on property developers to help pay for important infrastructure projects.

East Putney Councillors

February 7, 2020